Chapter 6
1972 Words
-Diana's POV-
Marco and I sit on one of the tables in the empty and dark cafeteria. Only one light is on above our table.
He clasps his cup of coffee with one hand and with the other, his finger caresses the edges of the mug as he stares into the liquid. His eyes show anguish as he tells me their story.
"And that's the gist of it. Now we don't know how to bring her back." Marco says.
"That's...quite a lot to go through for one lifetime."I mutter.
This... is a lot but, this can't be the only reason my mother brought me here. Is it just for Amy?
"I don't get you at all." Marco mumbles.
"Mh?" I give him my attention and now noticed that while I was deep in thought, he was staring at me.
"You. You are...there is something about you that... makes me feel... at peace." He says.
I am not surprised by this. Most werewolves feel like this with me and my sisters. For them, when they look at us or are near us, it is like looking at the moon or feeling the light of the moon on them. It brings them peace because my sisters and I are the closest things to resemble Mother.
Marco suddenly looks embarrassed. He clears his throat and looks back to his coffee.
"Your turn, Diana. What is your story?"
I take in a deep breath. "I'll tell you, but please, let's keep this between us for now."
He quickly nods. "Whatever you tell me here, will stay here."
"Thank you." I take another deep breath. "So, keep an open mind."
He nods.
"It is pretty simple really. I... am... Diana, the fifth daughter of the moon goddess—as your kind calls her."
Motionless, like a statue, he stares at me for a few seconds which almost turns into minutes.
"You don't believe me, do you?" I ask him.
"Uhm... I... I don't know what to say here." He says. "So... you are not a... Nymph?
I slowly shake my head. "No, sorry. I lied about that." I say.
He stays quiet for a bit.
"So... the moon goddess has daughters... and... you are one of them?"
I nod.
Again, motionless like a statue, he stares at me.
"Look, if you don't believe me, just say it." I say.
"Diana, how can I believe this? I mean, yes, there have been very far-fetched things that have happened this last year but... daughter of the moon goddess? That is way out there even for me."
I smile. "Well, it's good for you, I can prove it."
He squints his eyes. "Can you, really?"
"Yes, come on." I take his hand and pull him with me.
His warm hand clasps mine but makes no attempt to pull away.
I take him out to the back of the school. I stop to look at the view. Zoning into the forest, I walk.
Marco lets me lead him, not once complaining or interrupting.
When we step into the forest, I look around, searching for a spot that is clear of trees but it is also secluded.
After searching for a few minutes, I finally find a place.
"Here is perfect." I say, looking at the sky where Mother shines bright though there are a few clouds that dim her light.
I stare back at Marco and he now looks amused.
Without warning, I take my robe and shirt off.
"What are you doing?!" Marco panics.
"Getting naked." I reply.
"Yeah, I can see that. But why?!" He tries to look away as he says this.
"You'll see." I say turning to him.
His eyes look like they'll bulge right out of his skull.
"Every child of a celestial being bares a marking. Amy is the daughter of a demon, and I am sure she has a marking too, fit to her kind."
Demons are nasty creatures but he did say that her father was a tear one demon—though he didn't specify—which means he might be a celestial kind.
He nods.
"Have you heard about moon markings?" I ask him.
He nods. "Those blessed at birth by the moon goddess bear a moon mark."
I nod. "But it is just a small mark. Almost like a small piece of proof that my mother favors them." I say.
I step back and I see the moonlight start to appear.
"Well, my sisters and I bear much more than just small proof."
Mother's light hits my body and the markings on my body start to shimmer in the light.
I didn't think that his eyes could widen anymore but they do.
Marco, still in shock, steps closer, his eyes roaming my body.
"You... you shine..." He says.
"I shine..." I say with a smile.
"So... you really... are..."
I nod again.
He is still in shock, he can't seem to finish everything he wants to say.
"I...I can't believe it..." He says. "...though I really should. My own gifts should be proof."
I nod. "Yeah. My eldest sisters had a hand in your gift."
"Really?"
I nod. "Not all stories are accurate. Some omit things like the story of the four. Mother charged my eldest sister, Ceridwen, to help with that task. "
He stares at me and I can tell that this has been a lot of new information.
"So, people like you... are real..."
I nod, taking back my clothes from the ground and putting them back on.
"Maybe, we should go back. I think you need more coffee." I giggle but he is still in shock.
We head back to the cafeteria where we both sit again.
After a few minutes of silence, he finally says something.
"Why are you here?" He asks with much curiosity.
"There is a reason I am here-"
"Amy." He says before I can finish.
I shake my head. "No. But I will help with that if I can. I am here for something else."
At least that is what I feel but I really don't know what it is yet.
"Something else? What?"
"I... don't know yet." I say.
"You don't know?"
"Mother...she doesn't communicate like a normal human would. She just gives me a task but doesn't really go into details about it."
"But why?"
"It is a rule made long ago by celestial beings. They are not allowed to directly mettle in mortal affairs. They can influence and send others to do what they wish but still are not allowed to give much help. I was guided to come here by her but for what, I still don't know."
"Is something bad going to happen?" He asks.
I look up thinking. "Well, we are usually sent on these tasks to help with quests or to help prevent bad things from happening. So I guess that it is a possibility that something bad is going to happen."
"What else can happen? We've been through so much already!" He is calm but I can tell that he is a bit angry.
"Marco... whatever happens, know that you are not alone. I'll be here to face whatever comes our way. I am not invincible but I am pretty strong."
He sighs. "This is all... not what I was expecting. It is almost surreal."
He leans back on his chair with his arms crossed and a hand rested under his chin, taking it all in. Minutes pass and he just stares at me.
I take a sip of my coffee.
"Mh... I forgot how good this was." I mumble.
"Wait..." He suddenly says. "So... how old are you?"
I laugh. "I wasn't lying. I am much older than I look... honestly... I lost count a long time ago so I don't really know how old I am."
He nods, deep in thought.
"And there are... eight of you?"
"Well, there are many people like me out there fathered and mothered by different celestial beings, but MY mother only had eight daughters, so yes."
"And where are they all? I have never met anyone like you."
"Scattered across the world. My sister Hecate chose a nomadic life and so she travels the world, never staying in one place for too long. My sister Selen chose a life of luxury." I fight the urge to scowl at the thought of Selene. "We all chose to live our lives in different ways."
"And you? What kind of life did you choose?"
"I... have lived so many different ways. Currently, and for a few years, I kept to the forest and nature."
"Alone?"
I nod.
"What would prompt you to live a life of solitude?" He asks, intrigued.
"Pain." I whisper.
We now stay in silence.
"It's late." I say. "We should probably head to bed. We can talk some more tomorrow."
He gives a small smile. "I don't know if I'll be able to sleep now."
"Well yeah, you drank all that coffee."
"Oh, yea. But I didn't have enough for it to have any effect yet."
I get up but he makes no attempt to do the same. I am pretty sure he is going to stay here for a while longer.
"Good night, Marco." I say as I start to head out.
"Diana..." He calls for me.
I turn around and look at him. "Yeah?"
His amber-yellow eyes stare into my silver-blue ones, but that is all he does, stare. It is an intense stare and there is something behind it that I can't quite make out.
It has been a long time since anyone has looked at me like this.
"Nothing. Good night." He says.
I leave him be and quickly get back to my room.
I lay in my bed trying to find sleep.
It was my intention to keep who I was a secret but... it feels good that someone knows who I really am.
My thoughts then shift to something else.
Amy... poor girl. No good soul belongs in hell. Hmh... I want to help with this. I am sure there has to be a way to help...especially with a hellhound around. It can't be a coincidence. With Tinsley's help, I know of an extreme way but, that would be a last resort. Diving into a piece of hell itself is not something I really want to do. There has to be another way.
So much thinking exhausts my brain and I fall asleep.
The next day early morning I am already in the library.
"Alright! Time to work!" I say enthusiastically as I look at the contraption in front of me. "... Uhm... how do you work?" I ask it.
I saw Marco using something like this in his office when we first met.
I tap with a finger at the letters on the board that lies in front of the screen. "What... are you?"
I look up from this devilish contraption when I hear Marco laughing.
"It's a computer." He says.
"A computer? What is that?"
"You really don't know what it is?" He asks looking perplexed.
I shake my head.
"I assume that you don't know what a phone is either." He holds up that rectangular small and thin box I have seen others use.
"A phone? I know what a phone is but last time I saw one... it was much bigger than that thing."
"And when was that?" He asks.
"Nineteen ninety-four."
"Oh wow. Well, I have a lot to teach you." He says.
For a moment there, when he said that, he looked enthusiastic. It surprised me because I hadn't seen much emotion coming from him other than pain.
I smile. "Well if you don't mind teaching me, I would greatly appreciate it."
"It would be my pleasure." He says with a big smile.
- Writer
